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'Mexican standoff' over parking on unadopted estate

Daisy Bodkinin Coopers Edge, Gloucestershire
News imageBBC Two silver cars parked next to each other on a pavement in a residential area. There's a mixture of red brick and white houses. Other cars are parked on the side of the road. BBC
People are parking on pavements during school drop-off

Residents say a "Mexican standoff" between the local council and developers is leading to parking problems.

People living in Coopers Edge, in Gloucestershire, say a lack of parking on the unadopted road is making their lives a misery.

The estate was build two decades ago but many of the roads are still under ownership of the developers, rather than being handed over to the council, due to a row over the standard of street lighting.

Hucclecote Parish Councillor, Chas Townley described the parking situation as a "free for all".

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Resident Stephen Nevin said parking is an issue around Coopers Edge School adding the issues are more about the layout of the area and a lack of places to park.

"There's just too many cars and not enough spaces provided. When the kids are walking by, you're having to watch in case cars are reversing on the path," he said.

The traffic coming in now ... especially with the Tesco opening is hectic."

News imageA middle aged man wearing a grey coat with a red hoodie underneath. He's smiling, and stood in front of a primary school. It says 'welcome' above the entrance to the school. Two houses are in the background. The sky is grey.
Nevin described traffic in the area as "hectic"

Development of the estate began 20 years ago at the former Gloster Aircraft Company factory. The airfield and is split between the Tewkesbury and Stroud council areas.

Resident Mark Knowlton says he "loves the community" but finds parking to be an issue.

"I think originally when the estate was designed, it was to try and limit people's car ownership, so providing only one driveway spaces for houses.

"I don't think that was ever going to work," Knowlton said.

News imageA middle aged man wearing a black puffer coat and black glasses. He's smiling, stood in front of a white house.
Knowlton thinks there needs to be more parking spaces in the area

Gloucestershire County Council is yet to adopt a number of roads in the estate, meaning they are still owned by the original housing developers.

Local councillor Townley said one reason the county council will not yet adopt the roads is that they do not currently meet the required standards particularly in relation to street lighting.

He said the council wants the streets to have LED lighting, however when the developers built the estate this was not a requirements.

Townley said developers and the county council are now in a "Mexican standoff".

A spokesperson from the consortium of developers said: "The lighting was originally installed in accordance with the approved GCC Streetlighting Highway Specification.

"Changes in specifications since then mean further clarification is required to complete the adoption process, the consortium remains fully committed to the adoption".

Gloucestershire County Council has not yet replied to a request for a comment.

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